The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) brought its front-line services closer to its clients in Antique through its two-day Permitting on Wheels (POW) that ended on Tuesday.
The initiative streamlines the application process by having technical experts from the DENR and its line bureaus – the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) – set up as a one-stop shop at the Binirayan Gymnasium in San Jose de Buenavista.
The offices assisted in securing regulatory requirements, including environmental compliance, pollution control, land and forestry, and geosciences.
It was rolled out in Guimaras in April this year, and Antique was its second destination.
Antiqueños lauded the initiative, which allowed them the opportunity to process their documents without going to Iloilo City.
Henry Baltazar Faulan, Villasiga Hydro Power Plant Manager, secured a permit to operate a hydro power plant in Barangay Igsoro, Bugasong.
MGB Chief Geologist Dr. Leilanie Suerta said that local government units, such as Laua-an and Valderrama, requested geo-hazard maps so they could strengthen their disaster preparedness.
“Laua-an Mayor Aser Baladjay came on Monday to ask for a copy of the geo-hazard map in line with their proposed sanitary landfill,” Suerte said.
As of noontime Tuesday, 161 individuals, companies, and local government have units availed of the POW’s services. (PNA)
